Process and apparatus for sulfatizing metalliferrous ores.



G. C. WESTBY.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SULFATIZING METALLIFEROUS ORES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. 1911.

lfifififimm Patented May 21,1918.

M FI A I EF T UFIF l @111 GEORGE C. WESTBY, 0F LUDWIG, NEVADA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN PROCESS COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PROCESS AN 10 APPARATUS FOR SULFATIZING- METALLIFEROUS ORES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. WESTBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iludwig, in the county of Lyon and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus. for Sulfatizing 'Metalliferous Ores, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This'invention relates to a process for sulfatizing metalliferous ores and simultaneously extracting the metal values therefrom by leaching wherein the ores are sub- .jected simultaneously to the action of sulfurous gases and an aqueous liquid.

In accordance with my invention the ores are subjected while wet with an aqueous liquid to the action of a sulfatizing reagent or reagents comprising principally sulfurous gase and oxidizing gases. In practice I cause a current of liquid to pass through the ore, preferably in a downward direction, while causing a current of the gaseous reagents to pass through the ore in the opposite direction. In treating fines, however, by ordinary means, I have found that it is practically impossible to carry out the invention by ordinary means, the interstices between the particles of ore rapidly becoming filled and the mass of wetted ore becoming so dense as to rendenthe-passage of gas therethrough exceedingly difficult. My present invention consists in a process and apparatus which I have devised more especially for .the treatment of finely comminuted metall-iferous ores with liquid and gas simultaneously to efiect their sulfatization and the lixification of the metal values therefrom.

My process and apparatus are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 shows in broken section and side elevation a view of an apparatus in accordance therewith;

Fig. 2 shows in plan and partial section a view of a detail of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows in plan a modified form of the detail shown in Fig. 2, and;

Fig. :shows a cross-section throughthe element shown by Fig. 3.

In accordance with my present invention, instead of forming the ore fines into'a relatively large and dense mass for its treatment with liquid and gas, I cause it to form in a large number of heaps or masses of low Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21k, llFlld.

I Application filed April 10, 1917. Serial No. 160,934.

small heaps, the material contained in them falling upon similar supports arranged be- .low those from which it is discharged, on

which lower supports it is again subjected to the action of the reagent.

As illustrated in the accompanying draw ing my device comprises an inclosed reaction chamber 10 provided with suitable charging hoppers 11, at its top and with an inclined bottom 12 and a discharge opening 13 at its base, the discharge opening being closed by a suitable movable cut-ofi' 14. Near the bottom of said chamber an inlet conduit 15 having an upturned end 16 within the chamber, above which is arranged a hood or distributer 17 provides for the admission of sulfurous gases, for example, those proceeding from a smelter furnace." Within this conduit I also provide a steam inlet nozzle 18, through which I may force steam, which causes the device to act as an 1n ector and accelerates the movement of the gas. At the top of the reaction chamber I provide an outlet pipe 19 for the gas, which may discharge into the atmosphere or be forced through other reagent chambers, as desired.

At the top of the reaction chamber I also provide for the introduction of water or other liquid, which enters through the inlet pipe 20 and is distributed by suitable sprays 21.

Within the reaction chamber, for the support of the ores treated, I provide between the water distributers at the top and the gas inlet at the bottom a series of transverse supports 22. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing these transverse supports each. consistsof two spaced members or slats 23, 23 between which extends a rope 24, ordinarily not tightly tenscd. This rope is an-v chored at one end to one wall of the reaction to a suitable-tank for the separation of the I metal values or may be forced by means of pump 30 and pipe 31 to a second reaction chamber. In carrying out my invention I charge the metalliferous ore fines treated, such-as, for example, oxidized cupriferous ores, or other cupriferous, zinkiferous and manganiferous ores'capable of sulfatlzation into the hoppers 11, from which they are discharged into the chambers from the supports 22. These supports are arranged in seriesin staggered relation or quincuncially, so that the material in falling descends from one to another and forms in low heaps upon the height of these heaps being determined by the angle of rest of the specific material.

After charging the supports in the reaction chamber with the material I pass thereinto a current of sulfurous gases, preferably containing a relatively high proportion of oxidizing agent, such as oxygen, air, oxidizing nitrous gas or the like. I simultaneously inject steam through the steam inlet l8,this accelerating the movement of the sulfurous gases and simultaneously introducing aqueous vapor into the reaction chamber. I also cause a regulated flow of aqueous liquid through the pipe 20 and distributer 21 over atthe top of the reaction chamber, which descends through the numerous small heaps of ore simultaneously with the ascent of the gas and water vapor. The water vapor, in rising, condenses and the condensate is added to the aqueous liquid and together with it passes downward through the small masses of ore Wetting them and leaching soluble metal values therefrom. By reason of the interspaces between the side members of the supports and the central agitating member the gases and liquid pass not only over the surfaces of the small heaps of air, but also pass therethrough.

After the passage of the gaseous and liquid reagents for some time I close the electric circuit through the solenoids, thereby suddenly tensing the central ropes which form the vibrating members of the transverse supports. This sudden tensing of the rope causes the material on the supports to beviolently shaken and to fall upon .those below, thereby preventing the ore from becoming too densely compacted and exposing fresh surfaces to the action of the reagent.

The treated ore from the lower transverse supports falls into the contracted bottom of the reaction chamber, from which it may be discharged through opening 1 The simultaneous action of the sulfurous pipe 29 to be discharged used in the treatment of the same or of a fresh batch of ore. The aqueous liquid supplied through the pipe 20 and distributer 21 may also be the liquid derived from previous treatment of ore.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated a modified form of transverse support in which the vibrator ro e of the form shown in Fig. 2 is replaced y a rotatable member journaled in thewalls of the reaction chamber. In

these figures 10' indicates opposite walls of suitable mechanical device, such as, for ex:

ample, the sprocket wall 36.

In operation I may, if desired, effect the operation ofthe vibrating members of the transverse, supports in successive sets or zones. Thus if the supports be grouped into three zones I may first effect the operation of the agitating members of the lowermost zone, which will cause the greater part of the material supported by them to fall into the bottom of the reaction chamber. I may then operate the agitating members of the next higher zone, which W111 cause the material on the supports in this zone to fall on the supports in the lowermost zone. Operation of the vibrating members of the supportsvin the uppermost zone then causes the material thereon to descend to the second zone, and finally the supports in the uppermost zone are charged from the charging hoppers. The arrangement of the vibrating devices necessary for such operationis illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein groups of the solenoids operating the vibrating members and forming zones are shown in independently controlled circuits.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a process for sulfatizing metalliferous fines, arranging said fines in series of low heaps in relatively staggered relation within an inclosed chamber, passing a gaseous sulfatizing reagent and steam upwardly through said heaps and over their surfaces and simultaneously wettin and leaching the fines in said heaps with anaqueous liquid, and vibrating said heaps, thereby exposing fresh surfaces to the action of the reagents.

2. An apparatus for sulfatizin'g ore fines comprising an inclosed tower, a series of transverse supports within said tower in relatively staggered arrangement, said supports ermitting passage of gas and being 130 moeyraa provided with agitating means, means for introducing gas and water vapor near the base of said tower and a gas outlet at its top means for introducing water near the top of the tower, and means for charging and discharging ore therefrom. v

3. In a tower for treating ore fines simultaneously with liquid and a sulfatizing gas, a plurality of spaced transverse supports, each comprising a, pair of fixed, spaced, parallel members and a vibrating member between and spaced from them, and means for operating said vibrating members.

4. In a process of sulfatizing metalliferous fines, arranging said fines in a series of low heaps in relatively staggered relation within a closed tower, passing a gaseous sulfatizing reagent together with steam through and around said heaps and snecessively through the closed ore chambers, simultaneously wetting and leaching the fines and said heaps by means of condensed steam and the condensing spray of an aqueous liquor.

5. In a process for sulfatizmg metall1ferous fines consisting in arranging said fines in a seriesof low heaps in relatively staggered relation within an inclosed tower, passing a gaseous 'sulfatizmg reagent together with steam through and around said heaps and successively through the closed ore chambers, vibrating said'heaps and simultaneously wetting and leaching said fines during said vibration by means of the aqueous liquor formed.

6. In a process for sulfatizing metalliferous fines consisting in charging said fines at the top of a closed tower to a set of staggered shelves arranged to form the ore fines into low heaps and cause the material to gradually advance and slowly drop consecutively from point to point to the discharge while sulfurous gases and steam are forced into the apparatus together with suflicient aqueous spray to condense the steam thus sulfatizing and'leaching the soluble values from the ore.

7. In a tower for treating ore fines simultaneously with liquid and a sulfatizing gas, a plurality of spaced transverse supports, each comprising a pair of fixed, spaced, parallel members, a rope capable of being tensed between said members, and means for tensing said rope.

8. An apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein the transverse supports are divided into parallel operative zones and their agitating members operated in said zones successively from the bottom upwardly.

GEORGE C. WESTBY. 

